Bobbin sorting apparatus



Jan. 18, 1949. l.. M. CoTcHl-:TT 2,459,309

OBBIN SORTING APPARATUS Filed July 1l, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV I fwi?. LOUIS M. COTCHETT f4/Af ATTORWY Jan. 18, 1949. L. M. coTcHE'r-r* .JEL-I IN VEN TOR.

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Louls M. coTcHETT Jan. 18, 1949. L. M CoTCHiETT 2,459,3(59 I BOBBIN SORTING APPARATUS Filed July 11, -194.4 v 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENToR. v

Lows M. coTcg-ETT BY "I en Z AT TUR/VE Y Patented Jan. 18, 1949 BOBBIN SORTING APPARATUS Louis M. Cotchett, Hingham, Mass., assigner to Foster Machine Company, Westfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application July 11, 1944, Serial No. 544,451

16 Claims. 1

This invention relates to bobbin` sorting apparatus of the kind used for selectively sorting bobbins or like supports for yarn or thread which have some residual yarn or like threads thereon from those which are completely free from such material, whereby to salvage for future use the yarn or the like remaining on any such bobbins.

More specically, the present invention relates to such bobbin sorting apparatus as defined above which may be used in conjunction with winding machines and particularly those winding machines which are adapted to automatically doff the supply bobbins as they are used up. With such automatic dong, it frequently occurs that a doifed bobbin will not have had all its yarn exhausted therefrom and the present invention provides means to segregate those bobbins with residual yarn from those which are clean of such yarn.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims. l

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a new and improved sorting apparatus of the kind generally and more specifically referred to hereinbefore.

It is a further object of the invention, to provide a new and improved sorting apparatus which will positively identify and segregate bobbins or the like thread or yarn carriers which have some residual yarn thereon from those which have not.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of one embodiment of the sorting apparatus according to the invention, having parts' cut away to expose certain operating elements of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detailed view of operating elements of the apparatus when in initial selective (cl. 209-72) y' 2 sorting position with respect to a bobbin having no residual threads or yarn thereon;

Figure 5 is a cross-section on the lines 5-5 of Figure 3; and,

Figure 6 is a detailed View, similar to Figure 4, withthe operating elements of the apparatus in a further selective sorting position.

Generally, sorting apparatus of the present invention comprises means for bringing the bobbins as they are discarded from the winding or other bobbin using machine to a sorting station where the individual bobbins are explored for any remaining yarn or threads thereon, after which the bobbins areprojected or dispatched toward one or another locality depending upon whether or not yarn or threads were discovered thereon.

The means for bringing the bobbins to the sorting station may comprise a conveyor belt which, in the case of utilization with a winding machine with automatic dofng of used bobbins, may extend throughout the length of the Winding machine and ina position to receive the bobbins as they are doifed. Alternatively, if manual doiling is to be utilized, the conveyor belt may extend along the machine with which it is being used at a convenient locality to receive the used bobbins as they are removed by hand.

Preferably, at one end of the belt or like means for bringing the bobbins to the sorting station, there is arranged a chute for conveying the bobbins to the means for exploring their surfaces for residual threads.

As each bobbin drops to the lower part of the chute it is picked up and carried forwardly toward the exploring means by conveyor means, for example, a continuous chain conveyor and, at a predetermined poi-nt in the travel of each bobbin, feelers with gripping faces are slid across the surface of the bobbin.

If there is any thread left upon the bobbin, the gripping faces of the feelers are engaged thereby so that the feelers share the further upward movements of the bobbin as it travels on the chain conveyor, and at a predetermined point in that upward travel the feelers cause means to be projected'into the path of one end of the bobbin to slew it out of line and permit it tobe obliquely projected into a suitable location or a receptacle, for bobbins with threads thereon, for salvage.

Should there be no thread on the body of the bobbin, the feelers slide on the smooth face thereof and permit the bobbin at its other end to contact means'to slew it out of line in the other direction, wherebyvit will be obliquely projected v in Figure 2.

into another and different location or receptacle, for bobbins bare of threads.

The belt conveyor and chain conveyor may be driven from the same source of power which may be a separate prime mover such as an electric motor so that the sorting apparatus may be an autonomous unit or alternatively, the conveyors may be suitablyl driven fromthe'winding or like machine to which the sorting apparatus may be attached, or with which the sorting apparatus may be associated. 1

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed dev scription as well are exemplary and .explanatory l of the invention but are not .restrictive thereof.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings,

and particularly Figures 1 and 2, a moving belt I is provided for receiving the discarded or doied bobbins I land for carrying these forward to a sorting station for examination for any Vresidual -thread thereon. l, -v l Achain sprocket I8 xedly mounted Yon the :shaft I-S which carries the belt -pulley 2i) about which Ibelt l0 passes and by which the 4belt '10 is :frictionally driven, A suitable take `up belt pulley similarto pulley 2Q vwill vbe providedat the .other gend of belt i9, vbut is notsliow-n. Shaft [9 .is suitably mounted in bearings 21| in the main sup.- porting fra-me ofthe `apparatus formed partly -by members y22 and 23,*and the shaft i4 isrotatably supported by the yframe member 22-near Vitslower end by a bearing 24.

Supported by frame members 22 and 23, -a-re -upstanding side guides 25..'and 26 running par# allel with the belt `Il) and extending thereabove a sufficient amountvto .prevent any cf Athe bObbins similar to Il moving'along with the :belt if) vfrom being-,discharged therefrom.

Located at theforward extremity of .the run of'belt Ill isa chute .28 whichisadapted toreceive the bobbinsvsimilarto -H as they come towardthe sorting stationythe chute receiving the Vbobbins and passing lthemto the sorting means.

The bobbins are deflected .and directed into chute 28 by an angularly extending deflecto-r 3G which may be formed with guideA 25 and-oon- .venientl-y, vthe guide 215 and dei-lector 3i) may be formed in one piece and-.attached to sidegwall 3l of the chute. The-other side wall 32 of the chute may equally be joined to guide 26; f'-

As shown in Figurepl, thegchute v28 slopes sharply downward, wheigeby the bobbin Il will fall by Vgravity downfthe lower slopingv Wall 33 and into a pocket Min' the. lowermost part of the chute which is shaped tosuit the general contour of thebobbimnowshown in thisposition, in full lines at 35 in Figure 41 and in dottedllines The yfront wall SBcfthe chute Zyis also shaped generally to the contourof the bobbin 3.5 at the bottom of the chute, and the chute 28, formed ofthe side walls 3l and 32',Y frontffwall and lower wall 33 is supported by frame members 3l and 38 in the form of channels extending ver# ticallyparallelto Vthe frame members 22 and V23 and attached' thereto by, frame members 39 .to form the 'main frame ofthe' apparatus. "Main driveshaft driven fromal suitable source of vcradle parts vof the power such asa prime mover (not shown) ex-` tends between channels 31 and 38 and is journalled therewithin and carries at either of its ends a chain sprocket 40 around which a pair of there is rotatablymounted.across the channels Aa shaft 42 upon which is fixed at each end a sprocket d'3 similar to sprockets Ml, for receiving the chains lil, bearings 135 supporting the shaft within the channels. f

Attachedto the links ofy chains 4I at preselected points are a `plurality of hangers llf, comprising thin plates formed at their forwardly presented vface to Aa hook-shape adapted to pick up the successive bobbins received .in the lowermost portion 134 of the chute 28 in the cradle formed by the hook-shaped partst'ithe hangers 'd5 being arran-ged en the trepar-@1161 .mei/.ille chains; ii in associatedpairs,y each pair being adapted to` engage and pickup bodily a bobbim-such as35,near yits -ends and carry thepicked Vup bobbin inthe' hangers upwardly trom. the chute V28. t l Y j. l ,l The lower wall V33 and part of the front wall .36 of the chute -23 arecut away,as,at lil, to permit the hangers lito pass through and'into the lowermost partV 34 of the chutev and -gatheriup the bobbinis lying there. Y, s Y f Thus, the series offpairs of vhangers :46 continously Amove upwardly into engaging ,position with respect to the bobbins as they assume the positionof bobbin 35 andprogressively move -:the

successive bobbins delivered down chute 28Jfrom belt .I ll upivardly,`toa sorting vstation to be liereinafter described."thebobbins each being moved from the position `occupied bybobbin H'teo'fthe position occupiedl by bobbin 35, then-ce to be cradled and picked upby a pairfpf .l'iangers-:litil to occupy the position ofthe bobbin 48 `and thereafter to be carried .up to .position occupied bythe bobbin 49, these positionsl being progressively shown in Figures 1 and 3. A

Means `are provided to vpermit exploring surface ofthe bobbins during their upwardmovement and preferably` asY theyapproachthe top of the runof sprockets 4-3 atabcutthe position of bobbinl 4S in Figures 1n and 3, -to ascertain l whether there is .anyremaining threadV thereon which can be salvaged,- and meansgarefalsoprovided for separating bare bobbinswitho-ut such remaining thread from those with such. remain# ing threalil.v

To this end, a-pair-ofeelrs .salare provided each comprising a curved pIate-haVingtheun- 'A derside projecting downwardly towardI Vbobbins supported onihangers asfthesev 'come upwards vfrom' lposition .'48 to position Mythe said underside being roughened,serrated or grooved to form extending teeth -5I asv4 clarlysliown inr Figures 3,45 and 6.V j f'" Each of the feelersj 5f!! terminate f at :one end in an upwardlyextendinjg 114g" sz which is. pivot.

ally attached to an operating rlever; the one feeler being pivoted at 53 to fa'lever 54 extending tions and, riaeacn: comprise a rodi 15a, suitably pivotal connecjournalled in the leaves of each channel 31 or 38, as ai', 6U.

In order to give stability to the levers 54 and 51 their ends journalled to the channels are formed substantially as L-shaped sections 6|, 62.

In accordance with the present invention it is desired that the 'levers 54 and 51 shall share movements about their respective pivots, and to this end the two levers are linked together intermediate theii` ends, one of the levers having a slot in which the pivoting means ride, to permit equal movements of the levers about their pivot points 55, 58 under upward urging caused by .1 thrust exerted on either of feelers 56, and to this end, the two levers 54, 51 brought together at a median portion by oisetting each lever as at 64, 65 to provide a pair of arms 66, 61 lying in close parallel relationship in the horizontal position of levers 54, 51 shown in Figures 4 and 6.

A pivot pin 68 having a head 69 is iixedly mounted in one arm, such as 61, and passes through arm 66 which is slotted at 12 to permit sliding of the pin 68 therein when the levers 54, 51 are swung upwardly about their pivots 58, 55, a retaining nut 16 being threaded on the free end of the pivot pin 68.

Referring now specifically to Figure 3, 4, 5 and 6, the respective stages of operation with respect to detecting existing thread on the bobbin and subsequent sorting of bobbins from bobbins free bobbin 15 is supported. Bobbin 15 is clear of any I residual yarn or thread and thusl its surface, which may be wood, cardboard, plastic material or the like, is smooth. As it moves upwardly, de-

pending feelers 5|] are contacted, the serrations i or teeth 5| thereof running freely over the surface of the bobbin under its continued rise. Due to the smooth uninterrupted surface -contacted by the teeth 5| there will be no tendency for them to engage or stop in their sliding over the surface, this result being obtained by the feelers 5|) swinging around their pivots 53 and 56.

Accordingly, with no part of the surface of bobbin 15 capable of catching and holding teeth 5| from sliding therealong, the arms 66, 61 forming part of levers 54, 51 will remain horizontal being held in that position by stops 11, 18 iixed to the channels 31, 38, the downward weight of the various parts of levers 54, 51 acting to normally retain this horizontal position against the stops, as hereinafter brought out.

As the bobbin 15 continues to rise to the position in Figures 5 and 6, the feelers 50 will pivot about their carrying levers 54, 51, moving around the pivotal attachments 53, 56 until the bobbin 15 assumes the uppermost position on top of sprockets 43, this being indicated in Figures 5 and 6. Further movements of the bobbin 15 over the top of sprockets 43 toward the downward reach of the chains 4| results in one end of the bobbin 15 striking an extension on arm 66, this extension being in the form of a depending lug 19 acting as a pusher. The resulting contact of one end of the bobbin 15 with pusher lug 19 will cause the bobbin to be tipped from contact with the cradle of one of its hook shaped hangers 16, so that as the downward reach of the chains 4| is started the bobbin 15 will be obliquely thrown or allowed to drop to one definite side where it can be deposited in a suitable receptacle (not shown) for bobbins free of any residual yarn or thread or collected in any other obvious manner.

Speciiically, as viewed in Figure 6, the right hand end of bobbin 15 'will be restrained by pusher lug 19, with which it is shown in contact, thus detaching the left hand endl of the bobbin 15 from its left hand hanger 16, and as the hangers start to invert their position on the downward reach, the bobbin 15 will be thrown down obliquely and to the right of Figure 6, to be collected in any desired manner.

Figure 3 clearly illustrates the Vaction of the apparatus when a bobbin, shown as the bobbin 49, has some thread remaining thereon as at 89.

As the bobbin 49 rises, the teeth 5| of feelers 58 first contact the surface of the bobbin and then slide along until they come into engagement with the yarn on the bobbin. Teeth 5| of either or :both the feelers 59 depending on location and extent of the residual yarn, become fast therein, and, as seen in Figure 3, the left hand feeler 50 has its teeth 5| locked in the yarn 89 on the left hand end of the bobbin 49.

Upon further rising of the` bobbin 49 the left hand feeler 56 will raise lever 51 on which it is mounted upwardly, and due to the interlinking by pivot pin 68 of levers 54, 51, both of these will simultaneously be progressively raised up by the urge of the upward climb of bobbin 49. As they reach the maximum position, which is as illustrated in Figure 3, and which is determined by the size and placement of sprockets 43, the pusher lug 19 on arm 66 will have been moved out of operative position, but a similar pusherllug 82 attached to the other arm 61 which forms part of the lever 51 has been placed in position for operation on the other end of the bobbin 49 whereby, when the levers 54, 51 are raised, due to the presence of thread such as 86, on a bobbin, pusher lug 82 will act on the left hand end of the bobbin to throw obliquely the bobbin to the left, as it is carried over the top of the sprockets 43` to be collected, as by a suitable receptacle (not shown). The relative positioning and shaping of pusher lugs 19 and 82 are clearly shown in Figures 4 and 6, lug 92 depending below lug 18 so that in the position of Figure 4, which pertains when the bobbin is free of yarn, as is bobbin 15, the left end of thebobbin clears over the pusher lug 82 but strikes pusher lug 19, while in Figure 3, it will clearly be seen that the pusher lug 19 has been raised out of operative position with the simultaneous raising of pusher lug 82 into operativeI Hangers 46 may be attached to chains 4| in anv suitable manner, and are preferably removable to permit of adjustment of sizes to provide a variability of use of the sorting apparatus adapt'- ing it to different sizes of bobbins or like discarded yarn supply carriers According to this invention, there is thus pro, vided a shorting apparatus adapted to'receive, explore and sort bobbins containing a remainingv portion of yarn from bobbins free of yarn, where- 7 :by Athe yarn remaining can be salvaged.,v Glaviously, the sorting rdevice ycan receive upon :its -belt il) the discarded bobbins byhand or can be so -'associated with,a"wiuding Yorsimilar machine as to Vreceive -hobbins 'when automatically .doffed.

The main ydrive shaft II?! may be driven from any .sourceoi power, such as an yelectric motor (not shown) mounted within-frame ychannel memu -liers 3l, 38,' whereby the sorting apparatus of this invention may forman autonomous unit, or the main drive shaft lIVI may be Ysuitably driven from a .driving shaft Ion the Winding or like machine with which Athe sorting apparatus is to -be used, to which it may be` attached or 4into which it may be incorporated,

The invention 'in :its broader aspects is not limited to the speci-o Amechanisms shown and described but 'departures lmaybe made therefrom Within the scope roi the accompanying claims Without departing :from the principles of the :invention andvvithout sacrificing its chief advantages.V

What is claimed is: Y' n l. A bobbin vsorting apparatus rof 'the kind de scribed and including in combination conveying means for directing the bobbins to be sorted to- Ward a sorting station. detecting means engageable with a bobbin and moveable longitudinally thereof for progressively yexploring the surface of each bobbin at said-sorting station, and selective means rendered operative by said detector means for directingrbobbins in lonedirection when said bobbins contain any residual yarn, and in another direction when said bobbins are bare of residual yarn.

2. A bobbin sorting .apparatus of the kind described .and including in combination conveying means for directing thebobbins to be sorted to- Ward a sorting station, detecting means engagea-ble with a bobbin and moveable longitudinally thereof for progressively exploring the surface of each bobbin at said sorting station, and obstructing means operatively-connected with said detecting means adapted to be placed in the path of travel of a bobbin when said detecting means detect the presence of threads on said bobbin, to alter .the direction of-travel of said bobbin.

3. .A bobbin sorting apparatus of the kind described' comprising in combination conveying ymeans for carrying a bobbin through a predetermined path of travel, exploring means engageahle with the surface of a bobbin and moveable axially thereof fopsearching the surface of the bobbin during said -travel to detect existence of residual yarn thereon, and directing means for changing the path of travel of said bobbin Yactuated bysaid exploring means only upon detection ci yarn thereby .upon said bobbin.

4. A bobbin sorting apparatus oi the kind described 'comprising in combination conveying means for carrying va bobbin through a predetermined path of travel, exploring means for searching the surface of the bobbinduring said travel to detect existence of lresidual yarn thereon, and a pair of directing means Aeach for changing the path of Atravel of-said bobbin in a different oblique direction, one of said directing means being normally in the predetermined conveyed path of travel of -said bobbin for changing the' path of travel `of saidbobbin if devoid of residual yarn and being removed vfrom said predetermined conveyed path of travel by said exploring means onlyupon detection of yarn of said bobbin.

5. A bobbin. sorting .apparatus of the kind described `comprising in combination conveying means lfor `Vcarrying Ia ybobbin 'through' fapreder termined path of travel, exploring means yfor searching the suriace'of the bobbin during .said travel to=detec`t existenceof residual yarn thereon, yand pairof directing means'each for changingv the path of travel said bobbin in a different oblique direction,Y one of said directing means being normally vin `the predetermined yconveyed vpathoi travel of :said bobbin for changing the pathof travel of said bobbin if devoid of residual .yarn and bei-ng removed `tromsaid predetermined conveyed pathofltravel byfsaid exploring means only upon detection fof yarn of said-bobbimLthe y.other of said .directing means being normally outof 4the predetermined conveyed path of travel n of said bobbin, and being broughtinto said predeterminedyconveyed .path of -travel with theremoval therefrom .of the rstdirection ,meansfA 6. A bobbin ysorting.apparatus oi the kind .dee

scribed comprising in `combinationv conveying `.means for carrying a bobbin through a prede- I termined rpath yof travel, exploring means Vfor searching the -surface of the bobbin during said n travel to detect existence of residual yarn theren on 'and .a pair of directing means jeach for changing the path of travel of said bobbin .in a diierent oblique direction, one o said directingmeans M being ynormally .in thepred'etermined conveyed ath of travel of said bobbinffor changingI the veyed path of travel of said bobbin, and being .brought into said predetermined conveyed path oftravel simultaneously `vviththe removal there- 'from of the first direction means by Vsaid exploring means upon detection of yarn of said bobbin.

7. A bobbin sorting apparatus of the kind de` scri-bed and including in combination conveying means for directing the bobbins Vto -besorted to- Ward asor'ting station, a second-conveying means for delivering said -bobb'ins successively vv'tosacl sorting station, feeling means for `progressively exploring the surfacey of -eachbobbin during the delivery of each 'successivebobbin to the sorting station, and selective means rendered operative by said feeling'means for obstructing ione end or 'the lother fend 'of revery successive bobbin `for Vsic-Wing the bobbins ou'tfof `their normal pathvof movement and directing bobbinsV -inone direction Whenfsaid bobbins 'contain any residual yarn,

and'in another directionwhensaid bobbins are .said sorting-station adapted to explore the surface of 'each bobbin during its upward movements on said conveyor, a, pusher :normally in the path of Ithe conveyor adapted to engageone enclofeach 4bobbin thereon, a second pusher normally outA of the-path of the conveyor .adapted to be moved into a Iposition toV engage the other end/oi each from .the conveyor inone direction or anot l1i=,-r. f

9. A bobbin sorting apparatus of the kind described comprising in combination a lifting conveyorfor carrying veach bobbin successively toward a sorting station, feelers at said sorting station adapted to explore the surface of each bobbin, a pusher normally in the path of the conveyor adapted to engage one end of each bobbin thereon, a second pusher normally outgof .the path of the conveyor adapted'tobe moved .into a position to engage the other end of each bobbin, and means controlled by the movements of said feelers in contact with the surface of a bobbin for projecting one or the other of said pushers into the path of movement of the bobbin on the conveyor, to slew it to one side or the other and cause the bobbin to be obliquely deposited from the conveyor in one direction or another.

l0. A bobbin sorting apparatus of the kind described comprising in combination a lifting conveyor for carrying each bobbin successively toward said sorting station, a pair of feelers at said sorting station adapted to explore the surface of each bobbin during its upward movements on said conveyor, a pusher normally in the path of the conveyor adapted to engage one end of each bobbin thereon, and means controlled by a feeler' for permitting retention of said pusher in normal position when a bobbin has no residual yarn thereon, to slew one end of said bobbin to one side and cause it to be obliquely deposited from the conveyor.

1l. A bobbin sorting apparatus of the kind described comprising in combination a lifting conveyor for carrying each bobbin successively toward said sorting station, a pair of feelers at said sorting station adapted to explore the surface of each bobbin during its upward movements on said conveyor, a pusher normally out of the path of the conveyor, and means controlled by a feeler for projecting said pusher into the path of movement of said conveyor and into engaging position with respect to an end of a bobbin when residual yarn is detected thereon, to slew the end ci' the bobbin to one side and cause the bobbin to be obliquely deposited from the conveyor.

12. A bobbin sorting apparatus of the kind described comprising in combination a belt for delivering the bobbins to a sorting station, a lifting conveyor for carrying each bobbin successively toward said sorting station, a pair of feelers at said sorting station adapted to explore the surface of each bobbin during its upward movements on said conveyor, a pusher normally in the path of the conveyor adapted to engage one end of each bobbin thereon, a second pusher normally out of the path of the conveyor adapted to be moved into a position to engage the other end of each bobbin, and means controlled by the movements of said feelers in contact with the surface of a bobbin for projecting one or the other of said pushers into the path of movement of the bobbin on the conveyor, to slew it to one side or the other and cause the bobbin to be obliquely deposited from the conveyor in one direction or another, said means comprising yarn engaging teeth on said feelers, a pivoted arm for pivotally supporting each feeler, said arms being linked together intermediate their length and carrying said pushers at their extremities.

13. A bobbin sorting apparatus of the kind described comprising in combination a lifting conveyor for carrying each bobbin successively toward a sorting station, feelers at said sorting station adapted to explore the surface of each bobbin, a pusher normally in the path of the coners in contact with the surface of a bobbin for projecting one or the other of said pushers into the path of movement of the bobbin on the conveyor, to slew it to one side or the other and cause the bobbin to be obliquely deposited from the conveyor in one direction or another, said means comprising yarn engaging teeth on said feelers, a pivoted arm for ,pivotally supporting each feeler, said arms being linked together intermediate their length and carrying said pushers at their extremities.

14. A bobbin sorting apparatus of the kind described comprising in combination a lifting conveyor for carrying each bobbin successively toward said sorting station, a pair of feelers at said sorting station adapted to explore the surface of each bobbin during its upward movements on said conveyor, a pusher normally in the path of the conveyor adapted to engage one end of each bobbin thereon, and means controlled by a feeler for permitting retention of said pusher in normal position when a bobbin has no residual yarn thereon, to slew one end of said bobbin to one side and cause it to be obliquely deposited from the conveyor, said means including a pivoted arm to which Said feeler is pivoted said arm carrying said pusher at its extremity, and serrated yarn engaging teeth on said feeler, adapted to slide upon a bobbin which is bare of residual yarn.

15. A bobbin sorting apparatus of the kind described comprising in combination a lifting conveyor for carrying each bobbin successively toward said sorting station, a .pair of feelers at said sorting station adapted to explore the surface of each bobbin during its upward movements on said conveyor, a pusher normally out of the path of the conveyor, and means controlled by a feeler for projecting said pusher into the path of movement of said conveyor and into engaging position with respect to an end of a bobbin when residual yarn is detected thereon, to slew the end of the bobbin to one side and cause the bobbin to be obliquely deposited from the conveyor, said means including a pivoted arm to which said feeler is pivoted, said arm carrying said pusher at its extremity, and serrated yarn engaging teeth on said feeler adapted to grip said yarn on said bobbin and cause uplifting of said arm to place said pusher in the path of movement of one end of said bobbin.

16. A bobbin sorting apparatus of the kind described comprising in combination a belt for delivering the bobbins to a pick up station, a chute, down which the bobbins fall, a lifting conveyor for successively picking up the bobbins and carrying them to a sorting station, a pair of feelers each pivotally mounted on an arm and having a serrated yarn engaging surface presented toward the uprising bobbins each of said arms being pivotally attached at one of their ends and linked intermediate their length to each other, a lug projecting from the free end of one arm into the normal path of one end of a bobbin, and a lug ,projecting below the first lug and normally below the normal path of movement of the other end of the bobbin, whereby upon presence of yarn upon a bobbin the teeth of the feelers will engage and raise up said arms so that said second lug is in the path of movement of said other end of the bobbin, to obliquely dislodge the bobbinK4 in l frm the, com'rgeyor. Y

u 12 one directiQnfnomthe conveyor, anqugoppgpf r y AES :HEB Srice'pf yarn, una bf. blc111:um.feelers` 1s/111,111.36 REFERENQ ,G

smoothly dn thebobbinf fadaandnhenrnnamed The following references? anez of recordmi tm 

